Copy of Catholic Morality- Chapter 3 Freedom

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Transcript of Copy of Catholic Morality- Chapter 3 Freedom

Freedom andResponsibilityChapter 3FreedomDeterminismImputableLawNatural lawEvangelical counselsPrecepts of the ChurchCanon lawVocabularyLaw and MoralityChurch LawSix Precepts of the Church:1 You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.2 You shall confess your sins at least once a year.3 You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.4 You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.5 You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.6 The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.The minimal obligations for members in good standing of the Catholic faith communityprecepts of the ChurchThe full body of officially established rules governing the Catholic Church, which was last revised in 1983.canon lawThe New LawLaw and MoralityThe New Lawevangelical counselsVows taken to poverty, chastity, and obedience in order to live the Gospel more fully. The evangelical counsels were typically embraced by those in religious life.Law and MoralityLaw and MoralityNew LawThe Gospel of Jesus Christ is the new law.It helps us understand the core attitudes that precede our actions.Can be summarized in two Gospel teachings:“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12)“Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)Law and MoralityThe New LawDivine Law has four purposes:It helps us stay on the right path on our journey to God.It helps us discern what is right when there are conflicting ideas of right and wrong.It speaks of motivation.It indicates what is sinful.Law and MoralityThe Old LawAlso known as the Law of MosesTen Commandments summarize the moral prescriptions of the old LawThe reasoned participation of humans in God’s eternal law that reveals what God intends us to do and to avoid according to his wise and loving plan.Law and Moralitynatural lawLaw and MoralityElements of Law:Law is reasonable.Law is for the common good.Competent authority makes law.Law must be promulgated.“An ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community” (Saint Thomas Aquinas, in CCC, 1976).Law and MoralityLawGuidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedomnormsResponsibilityIn Union With ChristResponsibility

Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality.Jesus is the standard or model on whom we should pattern our lives.ResponsibilityEmotions and MoralityEmotions are morally neutral. However, to the degree that they engage our reason and will, we can find moral good or evil in them.Ascribed, attributed, or definitely linked to a specific accountable person or entityimputableResponsibilityAbuses Against FreedomAbuses of freedom results in sin.Major impediments to the exercise of true freedom:Ignorance – not knowing what we should do or not doInadvertence – not paying attention or being distracted while actingDuress – freedom is impeded when someone tries to force us to do somethingInordinate attachments – money or other possessions enslave us and we do not act with full freedomFear – panic in the face of dangerHabit – repeated behaviors that are good (virtues) or bad (vices)Freedom and ResponsibilityLimits of FreedomHuman freedom is not absolute but limited. True freedom is not license.Freedom and ResponsibilityKinds of FreedomExternal freedom: freedom from factors outside of ourselves that threaten to destroy our power to exercise choice.

Internal freedom: freedom from interior factors that limit choice.Freedom and ResponsibilityCharacteristics of FreedomThe philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of the human will.DeterminismFreedom and ResponsibilityCharacteristics of Freedom“The power, rooted in reason and will, … to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility” (CCC, 1731)FreedomFreedom and ResponsibilityLook to the LawFreedom, responsibility, and law go hand-in-hand in the moral lifeLaw as a Guide to FreedomCHAPTER THREELaw and MoralityNatural LawNatural law is our participation in the divine law.Natural law teaches us what to do and what to avoid.Natural law corresponds to three basic human drives and needs:Preserving lifeDeveloping as individuals and communitiesSharing life with othersNatural law is universal, permanent, and unchanging throughout history.Responsibility